New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-10
TIE PRODUCE EXCHANGE "JIGGERS."
a.-or, III. (flFrooo Mad

Anew q Tiger" went up on the board of trade
Yesterday afternoon. About ago 1t occurred TO
an electrical expert that dial placed in promi
neut part of the exchange hall that would shcw the
fluctuations OF wheat would save a myriad OF ques-
lions. lie made tho suggestion to fellow expert
Roberts OF The Chicago Times and between
them they devised the dial, popularity dubbed
- iigger," which on the produce exchange both
at Chicago and New-Yosk exhibits the prices as
quickly they are made TO persons outside tho pit
The jigger" which now prostituted to the dut,
of exhibiting prices on the New-York and Chicago
exchanges. was originally devised Tor no such com!
monplaee Office. II was gotten up twenty-five years
ago 10 Boston by Tom Edison and Roberts TO record
the votes Of the members OF legislative bodies the
two Young men having the crazy notion that 1ote
recorder which would silently and exactly indicate
the ballots OF Senator's congressman legislators. and
aldermen would make the patentees rich The
vote recorder" OF 1865 was elaborated and
patented TWAS possible Nth i for legislator TO TO
desk on roll call, and instantly, without
his opening his mouth his printed
on the q aye" no" column OF sheet on the
presiding officers desk The device worked boaut-
fully IL vas built at Charley wiliiamss famous
electrical model works III Boston and cost $500.
Roberts had to pay the entire BILL 40 he was the
manager of the American Telegraph Office In that
city, while Tom Edison MAS only lauk and I'M
kempt telegraph operator in the same Office with no
money and credit. The vote recorder" was
built and paid for and worked without hitch. but no
legislative body wanted it, The two enthusiastic
inventors discovered that they had missed altogether
the American legislators idea when they thought
1
silence, unembeshed by explanations or eloqueuce
of any sort. Roberts made herculean effort with
Smith Weed TO have the Z" vote recorder" put into
the new capitol at Albany. but failed Then Edison
assigned the right and title 70 his one-haf interest
ana the Invention forgotten.
IL was not until last year that the vote recorder
was thought OF again. Then II occurred To the
electrical. expert who has charge OF the Board of
Trade ticker that il the Roberts and Edison
invention could keep track of Legislators votes il
certainly could keep up with the market fluctuations
II needed only suggestion to Roberts to set that
gentleman az work. The old vote recording model
was brought from its resting place and busted OIL
little work and little adaptation put it into
its new line OF iduty, and one day when the wheat
SPECTATORS came downtown they found the jigger'
! at work in the gallery OF the exchange hall. IL
worked so we'll wheat that another put up tor
corn and another wl be at work for the benefit
OF the spectators In pork. Roberts has just gotten
back from Nes-York, where he put up tor the Prod
| uce EAchan OF the machines Tor the New York
| SPECTATORS
| quaint New Engqnder fifty years ago grew rich
| because the sugar planters OF the West Indies
seized upon his cargo OF warming pans for sugar
eyaporators. IL seems not at all improbable that
| Roberts NAV realize handsomely, that produce
specuators see in that wonderful project of Edsons
| Tor silently recording the ballot OF the eloquent
American legislator something that Con be made
valuable to them.
| ONE OF DIR. lPGLYNNS FRIENDS REMOVED